Fluent in Fantasy: The Next Generation

(Hardback)

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Description

It's no secret that the fantasy genre has undergone a tremendous renaissance since the publication of the Harry Potter books and the recent successes of the film versions of The Lord of the Rings. Fantasy is one of the hottest genres going today, appealing to readers both young and old. This new guide focuses on titles that have come out of the recent publishing explosion in the fantasy arena. The authors organize and describe approximately 2,000 titles, most new to or newly described in this edition. A revised organization reflects the growth and trends in the genre, and all titles (except individual titles within series) are annotated.

Reviews

This update to Herald's Fluent in Fantasy: A Guide to Reading Interests (Libraries Unlimited, 1999) features many titles published in the interim. The organization is quite similar, with many identically titled chapters and others that are expanded from sections in the previous volume.This resource should prove helpful for anyone looking for fantasy beyond the YA shelves. * School Library Journal *
This newest entry in the Genreflecting Advisory Series divides the vast fantasy genre into chapters covering its popular subgenres, to help fans and their librarian reader advisors drill down to the kinds of fantasy litearture that will interested them most.Although many of the entries for individual titles are only brief plot summaries rather than reviews, the appendices include lists of award-winning titles, an additional bibliography of history and criticism, reference books, and a wide variety of other supplemental sources, both online and in print. Finally, there are author, title, and subject indexes to aid the search for specific titles. Like many of the other entries in the series, this biblography is a good starting point for the librarian confronting a young reader who is interested in a particular aspect of fantasy, or is unsure of where to dive in first. * Oklahoma Librarian *
The authors' obvious appreciation of the fantasy genre adds life to this text. The well-stated purpose is fulfilled in a straightforward way, and well-documented references help ground this book in both past and present scholarship related to the genre. Thoughtful details about locating fantasy books in nonfiction collections and genreblending will be appreciated by library support staff and new librarians. * VOYA *
[M]ore than 2,000 titles are arranged by author in 14 thematic chapters, including Epic Fantasy, Arthurian Legend, and Time Travel Romance.The guide will be welcomed by anyone who used the previous edition and by librarians who need help satisfying readers' growing interest in the fantasy genre. An essential collection development and readers'-advisory tool. * Booklist, Starred Review *
A guide to current fantasy titles, arranged in thirteen thematic categories. This revised edition includes over 2000 titles either new or newly described. * Reference & User Services Quarterly *
Bottom line: Herald and Kunzel have a winner here that will cover the best over time until the end of 2007. * Teacher Librarian *
Useful for any adult librarian who wishes to know more about fantasy works, or for the researcher who desires additional information on the genre of fantasy, this work continues the great work in the Genreflecting Advisory Series from this publisher. * ARBA *
With the rise in popularity of fantasy titles and the appeal of the genre to all age groups, public librarians and high school library media specialists need a way to keep track of these books that are important to their library's users. Fluent in Fantasy: The Next Generation is an excellent, user-friendly resource for librarians that provides pertinent information on fantasy titles for all readers. * Public Libraries *

Author Bio

Diana Tixier Herald, winner of the Margaret E. Monroe Library Adult Services Award, is program and outreach manager at Delta County Libraries, Delta, CO, and an author, readers' advisory consultant, workshop presenter, and speaker. Bonnie Kunzel is Youth Services Coordinator, New Jersey State Library, and is former president of ALA's Young Adult Services Association (YALSA).